Free Love's Stormy Gale (Heartsong Presents) by Lynette Sowell Page B

I’ve got voice mail.”
    “I’ll call the emergency prayer group from church.”
    “Thanks.”
    Just hearing Jonathan’s firm voice had calmed her somewhat. When she reentered the room, an attendant was performing a sonogram. Maggie’s white face and round-eyed expression beckoned to her. A monitor displayed the baby’s heartbeat along with Maggie’s vitals.
    Olivia took Maggie’s hand. “It’s going to be okay. Jonathan’s going to find Todd and come with him.”
    “My baby. God, please, let me keep my baby.” Tears pooled in Maggie’s eyes.
    “Excuse me.” A nurse came to Maggie’s side. “I need to get your blood pressure.”
    Olivia stepped back, winding her purse strap around a finger. She shouldn’t have encouraged Maggie to make this trip. She hadn’t been this afraid since—
    She started to pray more fervently. Lord, help them hurry.
    * * *
    Jonathan accompanied Todd to the hospital. He’d heard the fear in Olivia’s voice, and he wanted to be there for her as much as for Todd and Maggie. Olivia met them in the waiting room, her sweet chocolate eyes filled with worry and relief.
    “The doctor’s examining her now,” Olivia told Todd, then surprised Jonathan with a quick embrace. She left an arm around his waist. “I’m glad you’re here.”
    “Thanks, Liv. If you hadn’t been here—” Todd squeezed her elbow.
    “Thank God I was. And I’m glad Jonathan found you.”
    “I’m going to see my wife now. I’d appreciate your prayers.”
    Jonathan nodded. He liked the way Olivia leaned on him. He slid his arm around her shoulders. “Do you want to wait for a while? Would you like that?”
    “Yes, I want to know they’ll both be okay.”
    The door opened and the ultrasound attendant wheeled the cart down the hall. Jonathan released Olivia as she moved to sit on a cushioned chair.
    The hospital traffic swirled around them, women in various stages of pregnancy coming and going. Some with a spouse, others alone or with a friend. A young couple walked the hallway, the husband murmuring encouragement to his wife.
    Jonathan hoped one day that would be him. He wanted as many kids as the Lord would bless him and his future wife with. How many children did Olivia want? She was an only child. He had grown up in an active noisy family of three boys. But what was he thinking? Olivia had kept a cautious distance from him lately, although her hug had encouraged him.
    At last Todd emerged from an exam room. “Hey, you two. Thanks for waiting. The doctor wants to keep Maggie for a while longer, probably overnight. She’s not bleeding, but because of her history they want to watch her and the baby carefully.”
    “That sounds better, man.” Jonathan stood and clapped Todd on the back. “You’re staying with her, right?”
    “Yeah. Chuck’s got the charter scheduled tomorrow anyway.”
    “I’ll call the shop and let them know you won’t be back.” He followed Todd to the exam room doorway. Olivia passed them both and entered the room ahead of them.
    Jonathan peeked inside. Maggie was whispering to Olivia. With a swirl of brown hair, Olivia bent to hug her friend.
    She faced Jonathan. “Are you ready to leave?”
    He nodded.
    The late-summer evening air caused little goose bumps to form on Olivia’s arms. Tomorrow’s duties clamored for attention, but Jonathan kept focused on the silent woman beside him.
    “You hangin’ in there?” He put a protective arm around her as they walked to her car.
    “Yes. I wish I hadn’t encouraged her to go on this shopping trip.”
    “C’mon now. You know it’s not your fault. Keeping Maggie from a good sale is like trying to keep the tide from coming in. It’s not gonna happen.”
    For the first time since he’d seen her at the hospital, a smile flickered across Olivia’s face. “That’s true.” She laughed. “We did find some good sales. Most of the stuff in the trunk is Maggie’s.”
    Really. He didn’t know how the two women did it.